how do you guyes get your big cabs around?

[NickyBass]

Years ago, I used to be able to fit the entire band and all our gear in my Jeep grand Cherokee. (Small drum kit, 2 guitars, keyboard, bass, 3 amps and 4 people)

I think my proudest packing moment was when I fit 2 uprights and 3 people in my grandfather's old Cadillac Deville. All those years of playing Tetris instead of studying have finally payed off.

I usually just meet up at the club now, and I always help others unload. If someone was especially good at schmoozing the owner or patrons, I would load up there gear, so they can work their magic.

 

[bgavin]

Big cabs just plain suck to move around. Shape is a big factor.

I use a Wells Cargo 5x10, and have my Tuba30 subs sized at 27" wide to fit two-up in the trailer. 27" is my standard width for cabs, as most 5x trailers are at least 56" wide.

A dolly or a hand truck that also works as a dolly is beneficial. So is an assistant for another reason: theft. You are much less likely to have gear stolen when there are two of you.

 

[jasonbraatz]

I have a big cab and rack but I don't think it's hard to move around at all!

Back seats go down in my car, (Subaru Outback wagon) the cab tilts in and I rotate it to be all the way to the front of the cabin, rack tilts in and I push it to one side, basses go next to the rack. Sure, my gear is taking up my entire car, but I still get almost 30mpg highway.

The only time I need a hand with it is up to the stage or up stairs, but I have bandmates and other helpers for that.

 

[popinfresh]

Oohh, right.

I have a panelvan, just all the stuff in the back and it's all dandy. I usually take myself and either a groupie or a band mate along, and most likely some other band mates gear in the back. Get there, unload the stuff and that's that.

I'll load/unload myself if no-one else is around, but hey, extra hands cant hurt!

 

[myke.nytemare]

Some careful planning (and some lucky dimensions) allow me to carry two basses in hardshell cases, my 1516 Peavey cab, my head, a bag of extra stuff, 2 PA speakers and the PA head in my Hyundai Elantra...and I still have room for a front seat passenger!

Probably not good for mileage, but where there is a will, there is a way!

 

[chaosMK]

I like to do some stretches, especially for my back before moving my 4x10. Since I put it on top of another cab, it doesnt have wheels. The hardest part is cramming it into my passenger side.

 

[Winky B.]

Ford E 350 & 6 X 12 trailer if needed. Now I need more gear to fill it up.
Wink

 

[RBasss]

I'm able to get my 8x10, Bass Head, 2 or 3 basses, and some of my drummers small toms into the back of my Subaru Outback Wagon with no problems. When we play out of town we usually rent a truck (we have a hookup so we only have to pay gas + milage), but that's only because when we play out of town we're usually using our own PA. I don't think that carrying my 8x10 is anymore diffucult then when I had a separate 4x10 and 1x15.

 

[Shindig]

Since I cut back to "just" a 410, I can now carry 90% of my gear in the cargo (back) section of my SUV. A few years ago I loaded a double 18 cab, 2 single 15 cabs, a 210, 3 basses and my small rack into a Volkswagen Golf.
Not much room for anything else
I try to make my rig so I can move everything by myself but help is always appreciated.
Most gigs we all show up an hour before starting and help each other get setup.

 

[ALiP BoB]

What about those people WITHOUT wheels. How do YOU guys move your rig?

 

[Lalabadie]

What about those people WITHOUT wheels. How do YOU guys move your rig?

I usually FIND wheels
Otherwise... I try to arrange things so I know I'll come up and have something to plug my bass in (some places have an old PA and speakers sleeping, or will provide you with a monitor), I just make sure I can control my tone someway. Now if it's not a place where bands usually play (wedding?), it is very unlikely that they will have backup stuff, so you gotta find a car to carry your stuff.

If you're talking about wheels on the cabs, well, most cabs over 2x10 like to be flipped driver-up and carried by many people at the same time. Smaller ones prefer the cradling position (1x15, light 2x10).

 

[Ivan Boogie]

I new a guy who had a nissan sentra (older one) and too much gear , not enough money to buy any thing bigger but enough time to make the rear seats completly removable. He cut out some metal braces between the trunk and the passenger compartment and made the removeable rear dash . All this and a asso.. degree in tetris, you could never believe he got all his gear in that little car with a smile on his face as on lookers could just watch in aw....

 

[Triclops]

Pontiac Vibe, and seatless 89 ford aerostar...

 

[Disc]

Im trying to convinc my parents to get me a 70's VW hippy van before I go to college . Thats more then enough room for anything!

 

[jasonbraatz]

If anything, one of the 80's waterboxer vans would be better as it has an upgraded six squirrel engine versus the aircooled four hamster 70's engine.

Seriously though, those things kind of suck to haul gear with as you can only load stuff into the side, and the seats are a bear to remove. They're rear engined so to load any gear in the back you have to lift it over the engine compartment.

As much as it sucks, a minivan is pretty sweet to haul gear with.

 

[gkbass13]

i had a great volvo for a first car, but now i have a saab 9-3, before they got rid of the hatchback...so it fits a lot of gear surprisingly.

 

[Trevorus]

This is what I use: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]